Combined play pen and table



May 5 1942.

M. K. BUCHANAN r COMBINED PLAY PE! AND TABLE Filed Oct. 25', 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet l A I michadLJifiur/hamn .15 .1?

y 5 1942- M. K. BUCHANAN 2,281,672

COMBINED PLAY PEN AND TABLE I Filgd Oct. 25, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented May 5, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COMBINED PLAY PEN AND TABLE Michael K. Buchanan, Norfolk, Va. Application October 25, 1939, Serial No. 301,291

8 Claims.

This invention relates to a combined play pen and table.

It has been proposed to build play pens which consist of an enclosure formed of rails and vertical bars with one particular purpose of confining a child to a definite spot. These pens are placed on the ground or on a blanket, but no provision is made for preventing the child from reaching out of the pen and picking up vegetation or articles at the outside of the pen.

It is a well known fact that a majority of infants will put in their mouths anything they happen to pick up so that where the child is placed in the usual pen there is danger of the child reaching through the bars and picking up some vegetation which may be injurious.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a play pen formed of rails and bars which will confine the child to the predetermined region while preventing the child from coming in contact with the ground and for preventing the child from reaching the lawn.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a play pen forming an enclosure which is mounted upon a base member that extends sufficiently beyond the boundaries of the pen to prevent the child when reaching through the bars to come in contact with the ground at any point, the side walls of the enclosure being foldable upon the base member with the base mem- 0 her being foldable to form a compact neat unit when not in use or when stored.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a combined play pen and table which is foldable into a neat compact mass and which may be placed upon the ground with the table top protecting the child against varying temperatures or mcistures on a lawn while preventing the hands of the child from coming in contact with the lawn beyond the confines of the pen, the pen being adapted to be inverted so that the base member of the pen will form the top of the table while the side rails of the pen will act as the legs for supporting the table top above the ground.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a combined play pen and table which is adapted to be folded into a neat compact mass for storage while when set up will confine the child to a predetermined area, a base member which also forms the table top supporting the side frames of the pen and protecting the child against dampness or varying temperatures on a.

lawn while preventing the child from reaching the lawn with its hands.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a combined play pen and table in which a circular base member is adapted to support in a vertical position the side frames of the pen to confine a child, the frames being foldable upon the top face of the base member so that when the base member is located in a vertical position the same may be rolled from one point to another thus eliminating the necessity of carrying the pen or dragging the pen from one spot to another, the base member being foldable along a central line when the frames or side walls of the pen have been placed in close contact with the top face of the foldable base member whereby the pen may be stored.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a pen mounted upon a base member with sun visors carried by certain frames of the pen to protect the child from unnecessary exposure to the rays of the sun, said visors, also, being adapted to be moved to a'position in close contactwith the side frames to protect the child against the wind.

This invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description, in view of the accompanying drawings forming a part of the specification; nevertheless, it is to be understood that the invention is not confined to the disclosure, being susceptible of such changes and modifications as define no material departure from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawings: Figure l is a view in perspective of a play pen constructed in accordance with the principles of my invention, showing the tires omitted from the base member.

Figure 2 is a vertical section taken along the line 22 of Figure 5.

Figure 3 is a vertical section taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 6.

Figure 4 is a vertical section of the pen in folded position.

Figure 5 is a plan view of the play pen partly in section and in erected condition.

Figure 6 is a plan view of the play pen in partly folded condition and in position to be rolled.

Figure '7 is an enlarged vertical section taken along the line 'l--1 of Figure 5.

Figure 8 is a view in perspective of the connecting means between the associated side walls of the pen.

Figure 9 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of one corner of the'play pen showing the sun visor in position.

Figure 10 is a transverse vertical section showing the play pen converted into a table.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, l5 generally designates a base member which is formed of two sections i5 and I1 hingedly connected together adjacent their inner abutting edges I8. The base member is formed of wood, particularly ply wood, or some composition material which has been treated to make the same impervious to moisture. Furthermore, the sections of the base member are relatively thin to eliminate any great weight.

A pair of hinges, generally designated by the numeral 25, connects the sections together and these hinges straddle the abutting edges l8 of,

the sections. Each hinge consists of a pair of base members 2| and 22 secured in any approved manner to the sections of the base I5. From the base member 2| rises a curved member 23 which is provided with perforations at its outer end to receive a pintle 24. v A pair of spaced parallel curved members 25 rise from the base member 22 and the free ends of these members receive the free end of the member 23. The outer ends of the members 25 are provided with perforations which aline with the perforations in the outer end of the member 23 to receive the pintle 24.

This pintle is provided with heads at its opposite ends to maintain the pintle in place.

It will be noted from this type of hinge that the two sections l6 and I1 of the base member l5 are adapted to be folded upon each other in parallel relation but spaced therefrom for a purpose which will be presently explained.

The pen is composed of four side walls or frames generally designated by the numerals 26, 21, 28 and 29. The frames 26 and 21 are composed of a top rail 36, a bottom rail 3| and vertically disposed bars 32 which connect the rails 30 and 3| together in spaced relation. The frames 28 and 29 are likewise composed of h-orizontally disposed rails 35 and 3'6 andvertical bars 31 connecting the rails 35 and 36 in spaced relation.

A plate or board 46 is secured in position at each end of the frames so that the corners of the pen are closed to prevent the infant from reaching through the bars and beyond the periphery of the base member l5 at these points so that his hands cannot come in contact with the ground beyond the confines of the base member.

Each of the rails 3| of the frames 26 and 21 are provided with pintles 4| projecting in parallel relation with the base member and mounted in bearings 42 which are secured to the base member. A coil spring 43 is located in each bearing and has one end connected with the bearings 42 while the other end is connected with the associated rail as shown at 44 in Figure 7. The pivoted mounting of the frames 26 and 21 permits these frames to be rocked inwardly toward the upper surface of the base member I5 against the tension of the springs 43 so that the frames will tend to rise at all times and will rise at certain times when said frames are released.

The frames 23 and 29 are removably connected with the ends of the frames 26 and 21 and are adapted to be placed in fiat contact with one of the frames 26 and 21 and supported by laterally disposed pins 45 projecting from the upper rails 35. The upper rails 35 of the frames 28 and 29 are provided with passages 46 which are adapted to receive the pins 45 after they have been removed from their vertical positions and from their connections with the frames 26 and 21.

As shown more particularly in Figure 8 each of the rails 30 and 31 of the frames 26 and 21 is provided with grooves 41 to receive a tongue 48 secured within a slot 49 formed in the ends of the rails 35 and 35. The tongues 48 are secured within the pockets 49 of the rails 35 and 36 in any approved manner. Each of the tongues 48 are provided with downturned lips 56 which are adapted to engage over the outer face of the rails 30 and 3i for aiding in maintaining the rails 35 and 36 and likewise the frames 38 and 39 in in each of the rails 30 and 3| and is adapted to engage a depression 52 formed in the tongues 48 for preventing ready disengagement of the tongues from the grooves 41 after the frames 23 and 29 have been placed in position and when their ends have been connected with the ends of the frames 26 and 21. v

A sun visor, generally designated by the numeral 55, is formed on a metal frame 56 upon which is secured some material 51 in any approved manner. Pins 58 project from the lower edge of the frame and a ball 59 is formed on the outer free ends of the pins and is received by a socket 60 carried by a curved arm or bracket 6| mounted upon a base member 62 which is in the form of a spring clip adapted to be forced over the rail 35 of the frame 29 so that the visor 55 may be readily removed from the rail when desired. It will be noted that the outer end of the socket 65 is cut away so that the pins 58 may be moved freely through a vertical plane towards and away from the inner or outer portions of the pen.

A second visor 55 which is identical with the visor 55 is mounted upon the top rail 36 of the frame 21. Both of these visors may be moved to the vertical position shown in Figure 1 or they may be moved inwardly towards the pen or they may be moved downwardly in close association with the bars 32 and 31 of the frames 21 and 29 in order to protect the infant from strong currents of air. Furthermore, the arms or brackets 6! are so curved and are of sufficient length that they may be moved to the position shown in Figure 4 when the pen is folded into a compact bundle for storage or for shipping. Since the clips 62 removably connect the visors 55 and 55 to the frames of the pen these visors may be removed and stored away when they are not required.

However, since these visors may be moved to a plurality of different positions they can be so adjusted as to protect the infant from the severe rays of the sun during certain periods of the day.

As shown more particularly in Fig. 10 the play pen may be used as a table when inverted so that the side frames may be employed as legs for supporting the base member I5 above the ground.

A pair of latches 13 are pivotally mounted at 11 on the section l6 adjacent the inner edge and these latches extend over the adjacent edge of the section l1 so that a hook 12 on the free end of each of the latches will engage the respective pins 13 secured to the section l1 for maintaining the two sections in horizontal or vertical alignment as will be presently explained.

A rubber tire 15 is secured to the outer periphery of each of the sections 16 and I1 and these tires may be circular in cross section or they may be circular with flanges 16 adapted to be secured in any approved manner to the periphery of the sections of the base IS.

The rubber tire is employed for the purpose of facilitating the rolling of the pen from one place to another and also protects furniture or elements of a home when the pen is moved from one place to another in the home.

When the device is placed in the vertical position shown in Fig. 6 and the latches 10 are locked in place the circular base member'may be employed as a wheel for rolling the pen from one place to another instead of the necessity of carrying the pen. The rolling of the pen makes the device especially adapted for use with Women because it eliminates the necessity of carrying the pen to different places so that the only energy required is the raising of the pen to the vertical position.

The pen may be folded into the position shown in Fig. 6 on to the fiat surface of the base member I or the base member may be tilted to substantially a vertical position with the frames of the pen in erected condition. This is particularly true where the pen is moved from one place to another on a lawn. When the pen is moved through the house it may be more desirable to fold the pen against the flat surface of the base member in order to avoid trouble passing through doors or around the furniture of the house. While the base member may have any configuration, nevertheless, the circular base is preferred for use in transportation. The diameter of the base member is such that it not only extends sufficiently beyond the confines of the pen so that it prevents the child from reaching objects on the lawn but it also provides sufiicient area beyond the confines of the pen so that the pen may be readily rolled to various positions.

During the rolling of the pen the latches are maintained in place to prevent the sections of the base from folding.

Thus it will be seen that the circular base member has three functions: First, to protect the child from dampness on a lawn and to prevent the child from reaching beyond the confines of the pen to obtain articles from the lawn or pull vegetation from the lawn; second, it provides a means for conveying the pen to various positions Without necessitating the carrying of the pen, and third, it forms a table when the pen is inverted so that the frames will act as legs for the table.

I claim:

1. A play pen comprising a base member formed of a pair of sections, means for connecting the inner edges of the sections together, a pair of frames and means for hingedly mounting each frame on a section in parallel relation, a second pair of frames located in parallel relation, means removably connecting the second mentioned frames with the ends of the first mentioned frames, the base member extending beyond the confines of the frames.

2. A play pen comprising a base member formed of a pair of sections, means for connecting the inner edges of the sections together, ,a pair of frames and means for hingedly mounting each frame on a section in parallel relation, a second pair of frames located in parallel relation, means removably connecting the second mentioned frames with the ends of the first mentioned frames, the base member extending beyond the confines of the frames, the second mentioned frames being adapted to be removed from the first mentioned frames when the pen is folded into a compact unit, and means on the first mentioned frames for supporting the second mentioned frames on the first mentioned frames, the sections of the base member being foldable upon each other with the frames located therebetween, the second mentioned frames being supported on the hinged frames when said hinged frames are folded against the sections of the base.

3. A'play pen comprising a base member formed. of a pair of sections, means for connecting the .inner edges of the sections together, a pair of frames and means for hingedly mounting each frame on a section in parallel relation, a second pair of frames located in parallel relation, means removably connecting the second mentioned frames with the ends of 'the first mentioned frames, the base member extending beyond the confines of the frames, the second mentioned frames being adapted to be removed from the first mentioned frames when the pen is folded into a compact unit, and means on the first mentioned frames for supporting the second mentioned frames on the first mentioned frames, the sections of the base member'being foldable upon each other with the frames located therebetween, the second mentioned frames being supported on the hinged frames when said hinged frames are folded against the sections of the base a sun guard and means for removably and pivotally mounting the sun guard on one of the frames.

4. A play pen comprising a base member, a plurality of frames, means hingedly connecting a pair of the frames to the base member, the other pair being removably connected to the first mentioned pair, said base member extending beyond the confines of the pen, the hinged connecting means for the first mentioned pair of the frames including a resilient means for causing said frames to be moved from a horizontal position to a vertical position, said pen adapted to be inverted so that the base member will form a table top with the frames acting as legs for the table.

5. A play pen comprising a base member formed of a pair of sections, means for pivotally connecting the adjacent edges of the sections together, a vertically disposed frame on each section, means for pivotally mounting said frames on the sections, means for urging the frames to a vertical position, and frames each connecting with the adjacent ends of the pivoted frames extending transversely of the adjacent edges of the sections of the base member, and means removably securing the associated ends of the frames together.

6. A play pen comprising a base member formed of a pair of sections, means for pivotally connecting the adjacent edges of the sections together, a vertically disposed frame on each section, means for pivotally mounting said frames on the sections, means for urging the frames to a vertical position, and frames each connecting with the adjacent ends of the pivoted frames extending transversely of the adjacent edges of the sections of the base member, means removably securing the associated ends of the frames together, the pivoted frames when the removable frames have been released being adapted to be placed in flat contact with the associated section of the base member, and means on the pivoted frames for supporting a removable frame in fiat contact with the pivoted frame so that the pivoted sections of the base member may be folded upon each other with the disassembled frames located thereupon.

7. A play pen comprising a base member formed of a pair of sections, means for pivotally connecting the adjacent edges of the sections together, a vertically disposed frame on each section, means for pivotally mounting said frames on the sections, means for urging the frames to a vertical position, and frames each connecting with the adjacent ends of the pivoted frames extending transversely of the adjacent edges of the sections of the base member, and means removably securing the associated ends of the frames together, a sun shade associated with a removable frame and with a pivoted frame, and means for pivotally mounting the sun shade on its respective frame so that said shade may be moved to a plurality of different positions.

8. A play pen comprising a circular base member and a plurality of frames erected on the base member to form an enclosure, said base member extending beyond the confines of the pen and adapted to be tilted to a substantially vertical position whereby the periphery of the base member may be rolled along a support for transporting the pen to different positions, and a rubber tire mounted on the periphery of the base member for raising the base member above the support when the play pen is in operative position.

MICHAEL K. BUCHANAN. 

